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Ferndale Firefighers Show W. Maplehurst a Good Time

(Crystal A. Proxmire, Ferndale 115 News, 9/26/2011)

Sunday was extra fun for the youngsters on W. Maplehurst as Firefighters from the Ferndale Fire Department blocked off the street at Pinecrest for a neighborhood fire truck party.

The party was purchased collectively by three families on the block, at a silent auction for Drayton Avenue Co-op Preschool.  The preschool is owned and operated by parents whose children attend. Parents work in the classroom alongside the teacher and the children, and the school is administered by an Executive Board made up of parents elected by co-op members to oversee the day-to-day operation of the preschool.  This setup keeps costs low and provides youngsters with a positive learning environment full of support.

“We do about five or six of these a year for various causes and they are always a blast,” said Fire Marshall Brian Batten.  “It gives us a chance to be out here in the neighborhoods, interacting with the kids.  And the guys like doing it.”

The kids got an up-close view of a fire truck, and even a chance to play with the fire hose.  Parents looked on happily as their youngsters played firefighters for the day, wearing plastic firefighter helmets given to them by the firemen.

To read more about the Ferndale Fire Department, check out our Police and Fire Section.  To learn more about Drayton Avenue Co-op, go to www.draytonpreschool.org.